CONGRATULATING National Members and Senators sworn into the Coalition frontbench, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the selection of portfolios covered by National Party Ministers was the greatest hold on Cabinet the National Party has had since Arthur McFadden in the 1940s.
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He said his Ministers would clearly put forward the party’s position and predicted that there would be times when it could vary from the Liberal Party’s.
“But while we have strong say, we just try to change the policy so that it better suits the people we represent,” Mr Joyce said.
“Ultimately, people’s preference always is, first and foremost, to change the law before you complain about the law.
“Complain about the law gives you a sense of empathy, changing the law gives you a better sense of outcome.”
“We look to the areas we know the people we represent want to have delivery on.
Mr Joyce retained the Agriculture portfolio, but said Michael McCormack’s entry as Small Business Minister was a big win.
“More and more I think we represent people in small business,” he said.
Mr Joyce said Nationals NSW Senator Fiona Nash’s new-look portfolio of Regional Development, Local Government and Territories segued in well.
“A lot of the things councils ask for come from the Building Better Regions Fund, which she has control of,” he said.
Mr Joyce said Senator Nash also had control of regional telecommunications and Financial Assistance Grants.
“If we have it all in the one area with Fiona in control of it, (then) that will make her a very popular lady in regional Australia,” he said.
Senator Matt Canavan enters Cabinet as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Nigel Scullion held onto Indigenous Affairs and Darren Chester retained Infrastructure and Transport, while Dr David Gillespie was elevated to Assistant Minister for Rural Health.
Luke Hartsuyker will assist Mr Joyce as Deputy Prime Minister, and Mr Joyce hoped that would allow him to spend more time in his electorate.
He said he liked to spend as much time in New England as he could because it was the most enjoyable and least stressful part of the job.
“You’ve got two jobs. You’ve got to look after your electorate and you’ve got to look after your nation and people want you to do both,” Mr Joyce said.
